Virginia Glatzer PLN 1 April 30, 2012 Final Project
My final project for PLN 1 is an application of the PLN literacy strategies to a literature unit on The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden. The focus of this project is to make connections between digital tools and literacy strategies in a unit that I taught in third and fourth grades.
Using a before/during/after approach to reading the book, my goal is to incorporate digital tools in a manner that is above all, appropriate and engaging. At all times, I am aware never to use technology for the sake of using it. It must only be used where it makes sense. BEFORE
The tools enhance the students’ engagement with the content by building connections and relevance, invoking prior knowledge, and increasing their understanding of the setting. Digital tools include:
Wikispaces to build a collaborative team workspace
Animoto to make slide shows about the setting
SkyDrive to retrieve images
Google Maps to map a trip
YouTube to experience a subway ride
DURING
Students will make meaning of the material by connecting events to their own lives and elaborating upon each other’s ideas. Digital tools include:
VoiceThread to re-visit the text in the early chapters of the book and respond to it orally and in writing
Wikispaces discussion forums to journal about sounds that have meaning to them and to respond to each other’s ideas
Amazon.com to make connections between a News/Magazine stand and a virtual magazine stand
Wikispaces discussion forums to express their reasons for magazine selection in hopes of persuading others to purchase the same magazine and to comment on each other’s selections
AFTER
At the conclusion of each chapter, comprehension will be checked. Choice will be given in regard to assessment. Students will re-visit the text while continuing the story beyond the pages of the book. Digital tools include:
Online comprehension quiz
Collaborative writing using a Google Doc
Choice of creating a video or podcast to persuade others to read the book
The Cricket in Times Square
Mrs. G's 4th Grade ClassPLN 1
April 30, 2012
Final Project
My final project for PLN 1 is an application of the PLN literacy strategies to a literature unit on The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden. The focus of this project is to make connections between digital tools and literacy strategies in a unit that I taught in third and fourth grades.
Using a before/during/after approach to reading the book, my goal is to incorporate digital tools in a manner that is above all, appropriate and engaging. At all times, I am aware never to use technology for the sake of using it. It must only be used where it makes sense.
BEFORE
The tools enhance the students’ engagement with the content by building connections and relevance, invoking prior knowledge, and increasing their understanding of the setting. Digital tools include:
- Wikispaces to build a collaborative team workspace
- Animoto to make slide shows about the setting
- SkyDrive to retrieve images
- Google Maps to map a trip
- YouTube to experience a subway ride
DURINGStudents will make meaning of the material by connecting events to their own lives and elaborating upon each other’s ideas. Digital tools include:
- VoiceThread to re-visit the text in the early chapters of the book and respond to it orally and in writing
- Wikispaces discussion forums to journal about sounds that have meaning to them and to respond to each other’s ideas
- Amazon.com to make connections between a News/Magazine stand and a virtual magazine stand
- Wikispaces discussion forums to express their reasons for magazine selection in hopes of persuading others to purchase the same magazine and to comment on each other’s selections
AFTERAt the conclusion of each chapter, comprehension will be checked. Choice will be given in regard to assessment. Students will re-visit the text while continuing the story beyond the pages of the book. Digital tools include: